Trace-carrier.



G. S. KJENSTAD. TRACE CARRIER. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13, 1914.

Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

mvewtcw C- 5- KJ'ENsrmO witmaooao n1: :vuwms PETERS CO,PHOIO-L.THO wAsnl I CARL S. KJENSTAD, OF BRANDT, SOUTH DAKOTA.

TRACE-CARRIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 29, 191a.

Application filed June 13, 1314. Serial No. 844,958.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL S. KJnNs'rAD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brandt, in the county of Deuel and State of South Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trace-Carriers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawmgs.

This invention relates to an improved trace carrier, and has for its primary object to provide a very simple and inexpensive device of this character for supporting the traces of the harness and preventing the same from dragging upon the ground when not in use.

The invention has for a more specific object to provide a buckle or loop having certain improved structural features whereby the same may be easily and quickly secured upon the hip strap of the harness without weakening the same to any material extent, and means carried by said loop whereby the cockeye or chain link of the trace may be easily and quickly connected thereto or detached from the same.

l/Vith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointed out in the specification and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my improved trace carrier applied to the hip strap of a harness; Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the carrier removed from the strap, and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section, the device being arranged upon the hip strap and the trace connected therewith.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 5 indicates the hip strap of a harness, which is connected to the back strap in any usual or approved manner and to the back band of the harness. Upon this hip strap, intermediate of its ends, my improved trace carrier is adapted to be arranged. This trace carrier or supporter includes a body loop formed from a single steel plate or casting and having parallel longitudinal side bars 6 integrally connected at their opposite ends and their corresponding longitudinal edges by the body plates 7 A plate 8 integrally connects said side bars at their other longitudinal edges and intermediate of their ends. This plate 8 is slightly bent or curved, the convex face thereof being outwardly disposed. A pin or stud 9 is centrally formed upon one edge of this intermediate plate 8, and extends at right angles thereto inwardly between the side bars 6. The outer surfaces of the bars 6 are also rounded or convex so that chafing of the animals hide from the shifting of the loop or buckle is prevented.

' Upon one of the end plates 7 of the loop a hook 10 is formed, said hook projecting longitudinally from the end of the loop and having its extremity reversely bent, as shown at 11. The inner face of the plate 7 is centrally recessed as at 12 to receive one end of a leaf spring 13, said spring being securely fixed to the buckle or loop by a rivet indicated at 14. The free end of this leaf spring extends slightly beyond the reversely bent extremity 11 of the hook and normally bears against the same. The spring plate 13 is preferably provided with an indentation or recess indicated at 13 to receive the contacting end portion of the hook 10, which acts as a catch or look for the trace loop.

As shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, in applying the carrier to the harness, the hip strap 5 is inserted under one of the end -plates 7 of the loop, and over the intermediate plate 8. The stud 9 upon this latter plate is adapted to be received in a small opening indicated at 15 which is provided in the hip strap. Thus the carrier loop is held against longitudinal shifting movement and as the hip strap lies between the parallel side bars of said loop, it will be obvious that the loop cannot turn laterally upon the strap. The leaf spring 13 lies upon the outer face of the hip strap, and does not contact with the hide of the animal. When the horses are detached from the vehicle after being worked, the cockeyes or chain links of the traces are engaged between the hook 10 and the spring 13 of the carrier arranged upon the hip straps, said traces being thus supported or held by the leaf springs and preventing the same from dragging upon the ground, even though the trace tugs may become detached from the harness. By thus supporting the ends of the traces, liability of the animal breaking the harness by rolling upon the ground and be coming entangled in the same is to a great extent obviated. If the trace should become caught upon some projection, the end of the trace will be pulled from engagement with the hook of the carrier so that the animal will not be frightened and break the harness as frequently happens. When it is desired to work the horses, the ends of the traces may be very easily and quickly detached from the carriers.

It will be obvious that if desired the positions of the carriers on the hip straps as illustrated in the drawing may be reversed so that the hooks 10 will extend upwardly toward the back band instead of downwardly toward the traces. When so used, the trace of course must be manually disconnected from the carriers and will not be pulled therefrom when the trace is caught upon a projection.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the construction, manner of operation and several advantages of my improved trace carrier will be clearly and fully understood. The device while exceedingly simple in its construction, is also highly serviceable and convenient in practical use and may be produced at comparatively small manufacturing cost.

The carrier buckles or loops may be very easily and quickly arranged upon the hip straps or removed therefrom. By providing a support for the traces, the life of the harness is materially prolonged and the expense incident to the necessity of frequent repairs is appreciably decreased. The trace carriers to be used upon driving harness are Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the preferably nickel plated and may be also ornamented in various other ways, as will be readily understood.

While I have shown and described the particular form of construction and arrangement of the several elements employed, it is obvious that the device may be variously modified in these particulars and I therefore reserve the privilege of resorting to all such legitimate changes as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

A trace carrier comprising a loop or buckle including parallel side bars and end plates integrally connecting said bars at their corresponding longitudinal edges, a central longitudinally curved plate connecting said side bars at their other longitudinal edges and provided with a pin or lug, said buckle being adapted for engagement upon a hip strap, said lug fitting into an opening into the strap, a longitudinally projecting hook formed'upon one of said end plates, a leaf spring fixed at one of its ends to said plate in opposed relation to the hook, said spring being of greater length than said hook and the hook having a reversely bent extremity for engagement by the free end of said spring, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my 1 signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

CARL s. KJENSTAD.

Witnesses:

H. E. KJENsTAD, SAM ESTENSON.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G." 

